My take on the defense

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; I made a comment a while back that Venturi didn\'t have enough talent on defense last year to be successful. Now that he aparantly has talent is everyone still Venturi hatin\' ?
Who doesn\'t think Venturi can do it this ...

Agreed, except there is definite unknowns and alot of finger crossing positions on our defense. Guys like Hodge, Ruff, Allen, Mitchell, Sullivan, Jackson, Smith...there are alot of hopes and few knowns to be found in this batch. We need a good chunk of these to pan out and minimize the exploitable areas of this defense or we better hope that the athletic ability of this squad can overcome Venturi\'s inability to make adjustments and hide the weaknesses. I like hearing that he is keeping it simple and letting his players make plays.

lummox,
our defense is close to being solid except for a few finger crossings?????
dude you named half the starting defense!!!!
i\'m as hopeful as anyone that our defense will be better, hell anything is better than last year, BUT top 10? i think that is way more than a stretch, a move to the middle maybe but top 10? hell no

i hope i eat those words but i doubt it, besides with our offense we only need to improve to middle of the league

Realistically...
The difference between our 27th ranked defense and the top 10 was about 50 yards per game, or roughly one less possession for our opponents. Its quite possible to go from bottom 1/3 to top 1/3 in one season. Especially for a young, speedy atheletic team that improved EVERY weakness from the previous year.

I see a top ten finish, easy. Especially if Brooks decision making improves and we play more ball control with Deuce and the TE\'s. All very likely!

Some of you guys are going to make me go dig up some old threads, where you were bashing me for defending Venturi. Iti\'s OK though, I\'m just happy that the defense is sounding promising. Myself and Venturi forgives you. :P

We need a good chunk of these to pan out and minimize the exploitable areas of this defense or we better hope that the athletic ability of this squad can overcome Venturi\'s inability to make adjustments and hide the weaknesses

I can\'t let up on that guy. If anyone can screw it up .....he\'s our man.

This defese has so much potential that it\'s down right scary really. This isn\'t like 15 years ago, where camp was the only time to work on a new defense, Mini-camps and off season perparation allows a defense to be learned much quicker.

Does no one remember my post where an incrediable amout of defense that finished near the bottom moved up to the top in one year. This is not magic. This is new talent that was brought in. Just like we did.